Tomato fruitworm or Corn earworm (Egg stage)
Scientific Name: Helicoverpa zea
Order & Family: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae
Size: Egg: 0.5 mm in diameter; Adult wingspan: 32–45 mm; Larva: up to 40 mm.
Natural Habitat
Agricultural fields, home gardens, and diverse landscapes where host plants like tomatoes, corn, and cotton are present.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on over 100 plant species including tomatoes (fruit and foliage), corn (silks and kernels), and various legumes.
Behavior Patterns
Adult moths are nocturnal and lay single eggs on host plant foliage or silk. Upon hatching, larvae are often cannibalistic, which usually limits populations to one larva per fruit or ear of corn.
Risks & Benefits
Major agricultural pest that causes significant economic damage to crops through direct feeding on fruit, leading to rot and unmarketable produce. No known benefits to the ecosystem.
Identified on: 6/24/2026